Rockpedia

Compare

Two genres, side by side. The ratings are editorial judgements on a ten-point scale, not measurements. Where they come out level, the difference is in the prose underneath them.

First genre

Surf rock1961

Second genre

Garage rock1963

Head to headSurf rock vs Garage rock
Surf rock: heaviness 2, melody 9, speed 6. Garage rock: heaviness 3, melody 7, speed 7.Heaviness2 / 3Melody9 / 7Speed6 / 7
Each corner is a ten-point rating. The further out, the higher.

The difference, by ear

Garage bands and surf bands shared equipment, venues and frequently members. Garage kept the singer and lost the technique.

Garage rock is sung cleanly where surf rock is mostly instrumental, and a little slower: 140 to 180 bpm against 160 to 200. To hear the difference, play Dick Dale next to The Sonics. Both grew out of rock and roll, surf rock first and garage rock two years after.

Put together from each genre's vocals, tempo, song length, key acts and place in the tree.

In figures

Heaviness
Surf rock2
Garage rock3
+1
Speed
Surf rock6
Garage rock7
+1
Melody
Surf rock9
Garage rock7
−2

Surf rock

1961 · California, USA

Where it sits

Rock › Rock and roll › Surf rock

In short

Instrumental, drenched in tank reverb, with fast tremolo picking. The sound of the Californian coast, later recycled by punk and by Tarantino.

How it sounds

  • Fender tank reverb dialled almost to maximum - the wet sound is mandatory.
  • Fast tremolo picking on a single note, a technique Dick Dale took from his family's Lebanese music.
  • Almost always instrumental; where there are vocals, they are Beach Boys-style harmonies.

Key acts

  • Dick Dale
  • The Ventures
  • The Beach Boys

Start here

The pickDick Dale - Misirlou. A Greek folk tune turned into artillery.

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Garage rock

1963 · USA / Canada · 2 subgenres

Where it sits

Rock › Rock and roll › Garage rock

In short

High-school bands, a Farfisa organ and one good idea recorded badly. Attitude beats technique here, and punk descends from it directly.

How it sounds

  • A Farfisa or Vox organ, very often louder in the mix than the guitar.
  • Raw production cut in a few hours, with saturated vocals and distant drums.
  • One good riff, repeated for two and a half minutes.

Key acts

  • The Sonics
  • The Standells
  • The Seeds
  • ? and the Mysterians

Start here

The pickThe Sonics - Psycho. Gerry Roslie's voice is a decade ahead of punk.

Full page →